Gypsum industry news

Belgium: Etex says that its financial performance over the first half of 2025 showed ‘significant resilience’ in a construction environment still largely depressed and marked by unpredictability. Compared to the first half of 2024, the company posted stable sales volumes, sustained healthy margins and achieved improved operational performance. The results were consistent with Etex’s expectations for the period.

Etex’s revenues for the six month period came to €1.93bn, a 0.2% decline compared to the same period of 2024. On a like-for-like basis, sales increased by 1.5%. The group’s recurring earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation amounted to €353m, a 6.4% fall compared to the first half of 2024. Its net recurring profit fell by 17.8% to €125m. The company said that this was due to the falling REBITDA combined with the impact of currency exchange on net financial charges. However, the company’s net profit for the first half rose to €115m.

Etex said that it was aiming for stable performance across all its businesses versus 2024 despite anticipated market volatility. It will continue to invest in manufacturing facilities, to progress in sustainability efforts, to actively pursue strategic opportunities and to implement the cost reduction programmes launched in 2024.

Bernard Delvaux, CEO of Etex, said “Our first-half results are in line with our forecasts, despite a market recovery that is taking longer than anticipated. While some geographies remain challenging, we are seeing encouraging performance in regions like Latin America and Southern Europe.”

“Compared to the first half of 2024, this year has been more demanding with further declines in demand across some important markets. However, we have made significant efforts to control costs and maintain margins, achieving notable progress in product and operational performance as well as profitability. This translates into stable revenue and sustained healthy margins.”

“As we expect momentum to gradually rebuild in 2026, we continue to prepare for future growth, including with the inauguration of our brand-new plasterboard line in Bristol, UK, in March 2025, €65m of investments in Latin America as well as innovation in our products and solutions.”

Germany: Knauf has announced that it is ‘future proofing’ its leadership structures for accelerated and sustainable growth worldwide,’ as part of a generational transition. Alexander Knauf will join the Partners’ Committee on 1 January 2026. At the same time, the group will reshape its top management to be broader and more diverse.

Kristin Neumann, most recently CFO at the DAX-listed company Brenntag, joined as a General Partner on 1 September 2025. Beginning in 2026, Neumann will oversee the CFO functions and the areas of Corporate Development, Human Resources, Legal & Compliance, Internal Audit, IT, and SAP Transformation, taking over from Alexander Knauf. The Gypsum Americas business, as well as Knauf’s global insulation activities, will be handed over from Alexander Knauf to Uwe Knotzer.

Murat Akyildiz, who has been responsible for the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia region at Knauf since 2021, will become General Partner on 1 January 2026. This role will see him assume operational responsibilities previously led by Uwe Knotzer. Jörg Kampmeyer will continue to oversee the gypsum business across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, among other activities.

Rupert Knauf, chair of the Partners’ Committee of the Knauf Group, said “I would like to thank Alexander for his many years of entrepreneurial dedication. He has driven our evolution into what is now a world-leading building materials company, providing key drivers for our dynamic business growth. With this personnel change, we are aligning continuity with renewal. Alexander’s long-standing leadership experience at Knauf will be a great asset to the Partners’ Committee and will ensure continuity in the company.”

Alexander Knauf said “I look back with gratitude on the past years in which I had the opportunity to contribute to the development of our company. I thank all our employees for their tireless dedication. Without them, the company’s success story would not have been possible. I am excited to start my new role, which I will approach with great passion. In this context, continuity in our values and strategy is particularly important to me. We can build on this strong foundation.”

Kristin Neumann said “Knauf has defined a very ambitious vision: To make tomorrow a home for all of us. I am very much looking forward to working with my colleagues to live up to this ambition, bringing a fresh outside perspective from my previous roles.”

Murat Akyildiz said “I am very pleased to take on even more responsibility for our company in the future. Particularly in Asia, the need for affordable housing and efficient infrastructure is significant. We can make important contributions there.”

Saudi Arabia: United Mining Industries expects a strong financial performance in the second half of 2025 compared to the first half, due to the planned start of commercial operations at its gypsum board plant by the end of October 2025. United Mining’s profit fell to US$2.7m in the first half of 2025 compared to US$3.2m in the same period of 2024.

CEO Hamad Alsourayia said that the company’s profit reduction in the first half of 2025 was due to an 18% drop in total revenues along with higher operating costs. Revenues decreased mainly due to weaker demand for value-added products amid a market slowdown, seasonal factors, and lower operating volumes in the first half of 2025. Alsourayia added that the change in the sales mix had an effect on average selling prices and profit margins since it led to less sales of value-added products, which, in turn, had an effect on average prices and margins.

France: Céline Da Silva has been appointed Group Strategy Director of Saint-Gobain, effective 1 October 2025. She will report to Maud Thuaudet, Chief Financial Officer. Da Silva succeeds Noémie Chocat, who will take on new operational responsibilities in North America as of 1 January 2026. Céline, who holds dual French and Portuguese nationality, has been Chief Financial Officer of Saint-Gobain’s ceramics business since 2021. In this role, she took part in several acquisitions in the US, China and Europe. She joined Saint-Gobain in 2003.

Paraguay: WEIG Group subsidiary Yaguarete Papeles has purchased a new paper production unit. The equipment will produce wallboard liner and testliner using recycled fibre. It was previously installed at a production site in Germany. Dismantling is underway, with delivery to the plant in Paraguay scheduled for mid-2026.

Weig Technical Liner Managing Director Bernd Stibi said "We are taking an important step to strengthen our presence in Latin America. The investment allows us to reliably supply our customers with high-quality plasterboard liner, while at the same time supporting sustainable growth in the region."